• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.283-289
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• 2003

Background and Purpose : Hemiplegic upper extremity is a problem frequently encountered in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke. In Korean traditional medicine, moxibustion has been used clinically in treatment of stroke patients with hemiplegia. So far, its efficacy has not been proven clinically. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the moxibustion in treating hemiplegic upper extremity in stroke patients. Design : Randomized Control Trial. Subjects and Methods : Forty hemiplegic stroke patients admitted to Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital were randomized into the treatment with standard physiotheraphy combined with Moxibustion-group or Control-group with standard physiotherapy alone. It took them 2-5 weeks from the onset to start this study. Moxibustion was applied at LI4(合谷), LI11(曲池), TE3(中渚), TE5(外關) in hemiplegic hand, once a day for 2weeks. The effect of treatment on hemiplegic upper extremity was assessed using Fugl-Myer motor scale, Motricity Index and Modified Barthel Index(drinking/feeding, dressing upper body, grooming) Results : These 2 groups had comparable clinical characteristics; sex, age, plegic side (Rt., Lt.), pretreatment impairment. After two weeks, patients in the moxibustion group perfomed better on Fugl-Myer test and Motricity index test. The differences were significant.(P=0.038, 0.002) But Results on the Modified Barthel Index revealed no effect.(P=0.348) Conclusion : This results suggest that moxibustion is an effective treatment for improvement of motor function of hemiplegic upper extremity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2009

Purpose: In order to examine difference in the activity of potential of spinal neurons and cortical neurons according to muscle contraction type in post stroke hemiplegic subjects and healthy subjects, the present study conducted an experiment as follows. Methods: The subjects in the experimental group were 17 left-side hemiplegic subjects (9 female, 8 male; mean age, 63.41$\pm$9.86 years) with the right hand as the dominant hand selected among post stroke hemiplegic subjects, and 17 age matched healthy control subjects (10 female, 7 male; mean age, 64.12$\pm$12.07 years). Movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs) were measured using surface electromyography and electroencephalography while concentric and eccentric movements were made alternately. Results: As to the pattern of the activity of MRCP, which indicates the activity of motor cortical neurons, we found that the amplitude is high (p<0.01), the length of excitement is short (p<0.01) and the ascending gradient of amplitude to the peak increases (p<0.05) in post stroke hemiplegic subjects' lesion sites different from healthy subjects. Conclusion: The activity of cortical neurons was no difference in activity according to contraction type was observed in post stroke hemiplegic subjects' lesion sites. This suggests that there is no distinction in the activity of cortical neurons between concentric contraction and eccentric contraction. Accordingly, if post stroke hemiplegic subjects' activity of motor cortex is analyzed by measuring MRCPs, it is considered useful in research on neural plasticity or as a ground of clinical effects in the area of physical therapy for the central nervous system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2022

Background: Trunk movements are an important factor in activities of daily living; however, these movements can be impaired by stroke. It is difficult to quantify and measure the active range of motion (AROM) of the trunk in patients with stroke. Objects: To determine the reliability and validity of measurements using a digital goniometer (DG) and smart phone (SP) applications for trunk rotation and lateral flexion in stroke patients. Methods: This is an observational study, in which twenty participants were clinically diagnosed with stroke. Trunk rotation and lateral flexion AROM were assessed using the DG and SP applications (Compass and Clinometer). Intrarater reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with 95% confidence intervals. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the validity of the DG and SP in AROM measurement. The level of agreement between the two instruments was shown by Bland-Altman plot and 95% limit of agreement (LoA) was calculated. Results: The intrarater reliability (rotation with DG: 0.96-0.98, SP: 0.98; lateral flexion with DG: 0.97-0.98, SP: 0.96) was excellent. A strong and significant correlation was found between DG and SP (rotation hemiplegic side: r = 0.95; non-hemiplegic side: r = 0.90; lateral flexion hemiplegic side: r = 0.88; non-hemiplegic side: r = 0.78). The level of agreement between the two instruments was rotation (hemiplegic side: 23.02° [LoA 17.41°, -5.61°]; non-hemiplegic side: 31.68° [LoA 23.87°, -7.81°]) and lateral flexion (hemiplegic side: 20.94° [LoA 17.48°, -3.46°]; non-hemiplegic side: 27.12° [LoA 18.44°, -8.68°]). Conclusion: Both DG and SP applications can be used as reliable methods for measuring trunk rotation and lateral flexion in patients with stroke. Although, considering the level of clinical agreement, DG and SP could not be used interchangeably for measurements.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.55-59
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• 2011

Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess the degrees of foot abnormalities by comparing foot abnormalities after stroke using the FPI, and to investigate the relationship between the FPI and spasticity. Methods: 33 hemiplegic patients (patient group) and 39 healthy subjects (control group) were evaluated foot posture by the FPI. Spasticity in patient group was measured by the MAS. And the relationship between Foot posture and spasticity in patients group were investigated. Results: Hemiplegic feet in patients were supinated feet compare with non-hemiplegic feet in hemiplegic patients and the foot in control group. The degree of spasticity affected foot posture. Conclusion: Foot posture is related to stroke impairments, stroke patients with more severe spasticity have more severe foot abnormalities as supinated foot.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aims to evaluate the correlation of cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), and driving performance in stroke hemiplegic patients residing in Korea. Methods : Subjects of the study were 18 stroke hemiplegic patients admitted to hospitals situated in Seoul. A clock drawing test (CDT), a modified Barthel index (MBI), and a virtual reality driving simulator (Eca faros-driving simulator) were used to examine their cognitive function, their ADL ability, and their driving skills, respectively. Results : Driving skills of stroke hemiplegic patients were shown to be associated with the CDT evaluation tool (r=-.777) (p<.001), but they were found to have any correlation with MBI (r=-.022) (p>.05). Additionally, an individual's CDT showed that the driving simulator evaluation result (pass/fail) could be discriminated with a sensitivity of 100.0 %, a specificity of 40.0 %, and an accuracy of 66.7 %. The result confirmed that the CDT is a useful evaluation tool for screening driving ability in people with stroke. But the MBI did not show any significant results (sensitivity of 62.5 %, specificity of 40.0 %, and predicted the results of the simulator with 50.0 % of accuracy) (p>.05). Conclusion : This study shows that cognitive function influences the driving performance in people with stroke. Driving skills of stroke hemiplegic patients are seen to be highly related to CDT. In the field of driving rehabilitation, these findings could be useful for evaluating driving skills relating to CDT. Furthermore, the study results will set a guideline for domestic occupational therapists to use the evaluation tool for assessing driving abilities in people with stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of closed-chain exercise on weight supporting rate change within hemiplegic side and static dynamic balance ability in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of the study were 13 hemiplegic patients who carried out closed-kinematic chain exercise program over 6 weeks. The exercises of the program are stand to sit with stall bar, stair-up & down by a hemiplegic leg and bridging exercise crossing the non-hemiplegic leg onto the hemiplegic leg. Each exercise was carried out over 3 sets of 10reps. Results : The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. After intervention, there was a statistically significant change in the weight supporting rate within hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic side(P<0.05). 2. After intervention, there was a statistically significant change in the static balance(FICSIT-4) ability(P<0.05). 3. After intervention, there was a statistically significant change in the dynamic balance(FSST, TUG, FRT) ability(P<0.05). Conclusion : The results of the study suggests that closed-chain exercise program in stroke patients improves their weight supporting rate and enhance the static dynamic balance.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.539-545
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• 2012

To evaluate of the ultrasonographic changes in hemiplegic and unaffected knee joints of hemiplegic ambulators with recent onset stroke. Twenty patients (40 knees) with prevalence duration of 14-39 weeks (mean 24.70 weeks) after a stroke insult were included. All participants were walking independently without leg dragging, had no previous knee injury. There were significant differences in intercondylar cartilage thickness and pes anserinous tendinopathy (PAT) between hemiplegic and unaffected knees (p<0.05). There were no differences in cartilage thickness of medial condyle and lateral condyle, patellar tendinitis/bursitis, suprapatellar effusion, synovitis, joint space narrowing, and Baker's cyst of ultrasonographic findings and x-ray findings in hemiplegic knee compared to the control except PAT (p<0.05). In hemiplegic knee, medial or lateral condylar cartilage thickness was significantly correlated with body weight, intercondylar cartilage thickness, and PAT (p<0.05). PAT was significantly correlated with Brunnnstrom stage and condylar cartilage thickness (p<0.05). Knee pain was significantly correlated with lateral condylar cartilage thickness (p<0.1). The hemiplegic knee had more ultrasonographic abnormalities including PAT and more cartilage thickness preservation in patient with recent onset stroke. Intraarticular sonographic findings including cartilage thickness was significantly correlated with extraarticular findings including PAT and a symptom of knee pain.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

The following study reviewed the walking patterns of stroke patients with hemiplegia, which is called hemiplegic gait of stroke patients. Focusing is given to the changes in the distance and temporal factors of walking, which is called spatiotemporal characteristics, throughout the walking cycle. First, we introduced the definitions of essential terms related to gait and its measure. Second, we reviewed the spatiotemporal characteristics of hemiplegic gait. A main issue was that hemiplegic gait showed significant deviations from normal healthy gait. Although hemiplegia is primarily associated with unilateral motor disorder, changes in almost all spatiotemporal parameters used to assess walking were evident on both the involved and uninvolved sides of the body. Last, we reviewed the changes of spatiotemporal parameters of hemiplegic gait according to the prognosis or status of stroke patients, which may help to give a specific intervention for rehabilitation of stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2019

Background: Numerous studies have used smartphone applications to measure the range of motion in different joints. In addition, studies measuring the active range of motion (AROM) of the craniocervical joint have revealed high reliability. However, the subjects in these studies were all healthy subjects. No study has yet been conducted to measure the inter-rater reliability for the AROM of the craniocervical joint in stroke patients. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the AROM of the craniocervical joint using a smartphone. Methods: The participants included 21 subjects who had strokes (17 males and 4 females). Two raters evaluated six types of craniocervical AROM, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion to the hemiplegic side, lateral flexion to the non-hemiplegic side, rotation to the hemiplegic side, and rotation to the non-hemiplegic side, using a goniometer and a smartphone to investigate inter-rater reliability. The inter-rater reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: The inter-rater reliability of the smartphone was good for extension, lateral flexion to the hemiplegic side, lateral flexion to the non-hemiplegic side, and rotation to the hemiplegic side [ICC(2,k)=.86~.88] and excellent for flexion [ICC(2,k)=.95]. The inter-rater reliability for rotation to the non-hemiplegic side was moderate [ICC(2,k)=.72]. Conclusion: These results suggest that the smartphone offers high inter-rater reliability for measurements of the craniocervical AROM in patients with stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2000

Stroke patients have increased with the overall aging of our population, 60 years and older. Recently the number of stroke patients has been on the increase even among younger people in their thirties. The family support is frequently mentioned as a major variable which plays an important role in helping the patients adapt themselves to their hemiplegic situations. The purpose of the study was to examine between family support and activities of daily living(ADLs)abilities for the hemiplegic patients, and to provide the basic data to help the patients carry out their ADLs on their own. The sample for the study included 106 hemiplegic patients and their family members. The data were collected using a focused, structured interviews. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1. The hemiplegic patients perceived that their family supports were very high(Mean, 49.00). 2. The degree of family support was significantly higher in female. high economic status, and non-use of brace patients than in male, poor economic status, use of brace patients. 3. The ADL abilities of the hemiplegic patients were significantly higher in ambulatory, younger, and longer-period-of-illness patients and patients who used a cane as a assistive device. 4. The family support for the hemiplegic patients showed a statistically significant Cor relationship with their performance of ADL(r=.30809. p=0.0013). 5. The performance of ADL for the ambulatory patients were mainly affected by the degree of family support, the period of the hemiplegic illness, the use of brace, informal care giving, and the age. These variables explained 50% of variance. 6. The length of illness was a statistically significant affecting variable for ADL performance in OPD and assistive device in IPD. In conclusion, the higher the hemiplegic patients perceived the degree of family support, the better they performed ADL. We should develop nursing methods which enhance the family support for the hemiplegic patients in order to increase their performance of ADL.